Lawn sprinkler head wrench



y 5, 1966 c. A. LASCH, SR 3,

LAWN SPRINKLER HEAD WRENCH Filed May 19, 1965 I wmr Fig. Fig. 2

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Cecil Arthur Lasch, 5n

7 LO BY Attorney United States Patent 3,259,000 LAWN SPRINKLER HEAD WRENCH Cecil Arthur Lasch, Sr., 111 Heather Lane, Palo Alto, Calif. Filed May 19, 1965, Ser. No. 457,148 4 Claims. (Cl. 81-90) My invention relates to a novel wrench or special tool useful for the removal and replacement of water sprinkler heads of the type used in lawn irrigation systems.

There is a widespread and growing practice of providing means for irrigating lawns and gardens, particularly in the more arid parts of the country, which consists of a permanently installed underground piping system connected to the water supply and terminating in a multiplicity of sprinkler heads or nozzles strategically positioned so as to completely spray or irrigate the desired areas. This does away with the necessity of the use of portable hoses and other watering devices and makes possible more uniform and more economical usage of the water, thereby increasing the quality of the growth and at the same time decreasing the cost of maintenance.

One of the principal disadvantages inherent in these permanent sprinkler systems lies in the maintenance of the sprinkler heads. These often become clogged up, corroded, damaged by trafiic, or otherwise worn out, necessitating removal for cleaning and sometimes replacement. The surface of these sprinkler heads is necessarily located beneath the surface of the lawn or turf. This makes removal difiicult by the use of ordinary plumbers or pipefiters tools and frequently necessitates digging up of the surface of the lawn surrounding the sprinkler head. The condition is aggravated by the fact that the connection between the head and the pipe feeding it is subject to corrosion, both internal and external, which makes the amount of torque or twist necessary for removal of the head relatively high.

Use of a conventional pipe wrench produces an undesirable bending action in the pipe and head and often results in slippage of the wrench, skinned knuckles, and damage to the head. Further aggravation lies in the fact that the diameters of the heads and the notches provided for their removal vary in dimensions with different manufacturers. All of the above problems are particularly aggravating in the case of sprinkler heads of the pop-up type in which a center portion of the head is caused to rise by the water pressure and thus cause the spray to be ejected at a higher point well clearing the top surface of the grass or turf. This type of head requires more frequent removal, cleaning, and maintenance than do other types.

It is therefore a basic object of my invention to provide a new and improved tool which would facilitate the removal and replacement of lawn sprinkler heads.

It is another object of my invention to provide a lawn sprinkler head removing device which would eliminate the problems enumerated above in connection with removal and replacement and maintenance of sprinkler heads.

It is yet another object of my invention to provide a lawn sprinkler head wrench which would be readily adaptable for removal and replacement of sprinkler heads of all types and sizes now in use.

It is a more specific object of my invention to provide a lawn sprinkler head wrench which would be positive in action and simple to use.

It is another specific object of my invention to provide a lawn sprinkler head wrench which would be economical to manufacture and time saving in use.

Other objectives will become evident to those skilled in the art from a study of the description which follows and the accompanying drawing which forms a part of this specification.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, there is seen a T shaped handle which may be fabricated from one-half inch steel pipe by welding. Positioned on the end of the handle opposite the T is a circular adapter disc or wrench head 2 which may be also fastened to the wrench handle by welding. Permanently fixed at the outer periphery of disc 2 is a square stationary dog 3 which may be of steel approximately one-quarter inch square in cross-section and approximately three-eighths of an inch long. I prefer to locate dog 3 so that it is in line with the T portion of the handle for reasons which will become evident below.

Diametrically opposite to stationary dog 3 there is positioned in disc 2 a radial slot 9 slightly over one-quarter of an inch in width and approximately one-half inch in length. Positioned to move backward and forward radially in slot 9 is movable dog 4 which is also fabricated from one-quarter inch square steel stock but is approximately six inches long.

Movable dog 4 is pivoted on pin 5 which is supported in fixed relation to the shaft of handle 1 by pivot base 6 which is welded to handle 1. The extension of movable dog 4 represented by 7 thus provides a handle or lever which facilitates the movement inward and outward of dog 4. Spring 8 positioned between extension 7 and handle 1 maintains dog 4 in a position at the bottom of slot 9, or continuously urges it in that direction.

For simplicity in explanation of the operation of my invention there is shown in FIGURE 1 positioned opposite 2 and in spaced relation to my wrench, a typical sprinkler head 11. The one shown here is of the popup type as demonstrated by the movable center 12. The sprinkler head flange 13 is equipped with notches 14. Pipe thread 15 serves to connect the head with the water supply. A spray nozzle of any shape or size, depending on the area and direction to be covered, is located within the center 12.

When it is desired to remove the head 11 from its pipe connection by unscrewing thread 15, my device is placed over top of the head, the stationary dog 3 engaging either one of the notches 12. By locating this dog 3 in line with the T of handle 1, I am more able to quickly facilitate the entry of dog 3 into notch 14. At the same time I am eifecting this entry, I press on extension 7 against spring 8 causing movable dog 4 to move outward and clear the outside diameter of sprinkler head flange 13. After dog 3 is properly inserted I remove the pressure from extension 7 and movable dog 4 quickly falls into place inside the diametrically opposite notch 14. The wrench is now ready to operate in removing the head by simple turning of the handle 1.

It will now be evident to those skilled in the art that my tool is readily adaptable for positive engagement with sprinkler heads of varying dimensions.

It should also now be evident to those skilled in the art that the operation of my tool through the combined action of the handle 1 and the top flat surface of disc 2 upon the head produces a pure torque or twisting action on the head and eliminates any bending and possibility of slipping and damaging the head, which is often made of brass or zinc alloy or other relatively soft material.

It should likewise be evident that my tool provides a high mechanical advantage, removes any necessity of disturbing the surface of the lawn, eliminates the need for any additional or auxiliary tools and enables the maintenance of lawn sprinkler heads to be effected with great saving in time and money.

These and other advantages of my invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art and while I have shown a preferred embodiment, I do not limit myself to this as shown, except as I do so in the claims which follow.

I claim:

A device for removing lawn sprinkler heads comprising:

a straight central shaft; a handle portion positioned at one end of said shaft at right angles to said shaft thereby defining a T; circular disc concentrically positioned on the end of said shaft opposite said handle at right angles to said shaft;

first dog fixedly positioned at the outer periphery of said disc and protruding from the surface opposite said handle;

radial slot in said disc positioned diametrically opposite to said first dog;

a second dog positioned through said slot and movable radially therein;

spring means for urging said second dog towards the center of said disc.

The device of claim 1 in which the outer ends of said T are in axial alignment with said dogs.

A device for removing lawn sprinkler heads comprising:

a straight central shaft;

said second dog being pivotally mounted near its center about a point in fixed relation to said central shaft thereby defining a lever;

spring means positioned between said central shaft and the half of said lever farthest from said slot;

said spring means being disposed to urge said lever half farthest from said slot away from said central shaft,

thereby urging the half of said lever nearest said slot towards said central shaft and into said slot.

4. A device for removing lawn sprinkler heads comprising:

a straight central shaft;

a handle portion positioned at one end of said shaft at right angles to said shaft thereby defining a T;

a circular disc concentrically positioned on the end of said shaft opposite said handle at right angles to said shaft;

a first dog fixedly positioned at the outer periphery of said disc and protruding from the surface opposite said handle;

a radial slot in said disc positioned diametrically opposite to said first dog;

a second dog comprising a radially movable portion on one end positioned through said slot and a handle portion on the opposite end extending in a direction towards said T;

said handle portion of said dog being pivotally mounted in fixed relation to said central shaft;

spring means disposed to urge said handle portion of said dog away from said central shaft while simultaneously urging said rnova'ble portion into said slot and towards the center of said disc.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 456,367 7/ 1891 Murray. 729,672 6/1903 Sack. 1,263,202 4/1918 Brown. 1,285,752 11/1918 Loiselle et al.

WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner.

G. WEIDENFELD, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A DEVICE FOR REMOVING LAWN SPRINKLER HEADS COMCOMPRISING: A STRAIGHT CENTRAL SHAFT; A HANDLE PORTION POSITIONED AT ONE END OF SAID SHAFT AT RIGHT ANGLES TO SAID SHAFT THEREBY DEFINING A T; CIRCULAR DISC CONCENTRICALLY POSITIONED ON THE END OF SAID SHAFT OPPOSITE SAID HANDLE AT RIGHT ANGLES TO SAID SHAFT; A FIRST DOG FIXEDLY POSITIONED AT THE OUTER PERIPHERY OF SAID DISC AND PROTRUDING FROM THE SURFACE OPPOSITE SAID HANDLE; A RADIAL SLOT IN SAID DISC POSITIONED DIAMETRICALLY OPPOSITE TO SAIF FIRST DOG; A SECOND DOG POSITIONED THROUGH SAID SLOT AND MOVABLE RADIALLY THEREIN; SPRING MEANS FOR URGING SAID SECOND DOG TOWARDS THE CENTER OF SAID DISC. 